Target-trap.



s. A. HUNTLEY. TARGET TRAP. APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1908.

Patented May 25, 1909.

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WITNESSES I S. A. HUNTLEY.

TARGET TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1a, 1908.

Patented May 25, 1909.

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STEPHEN A. HUNTLEY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

TARGET-TRAP.

Application filed may 18, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Serial n10. %33,568.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, S'rEPnEN A. l-lUN'rLnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovements in Target-Traps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enabie others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to target traps, and more particularly to a device of that class for throwing clay birds It is the principal object of my invention to provide a target trap having a suitable ejector that may be operated to discharge the target, and which will automatically return to set position after such discharge.

A further object is to provide an improved target ejector.

A. further object is to provide an improved tcnsioning lever and means for connecting same with the trap mechanism.

A further object is to provide other improved details of structure which will presently be fully described and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like referenc numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which 1 Figure l is a view, in perspective, of a tar get trap constructed according to my invention, the ejector being shown in the set position. II is a side elevation of same. Fig. III is an enlarged rear view of the trap taken on the line indicated by the arrow, Fig. II. Fig. IV is a plan view of the cam for releasing the lever link, showing the position of the parts when the ejector is set. Fig. V is a view of the same parts when the ejector is in throwing position.

Referring more in detail to the parts :-1 designates the trap base which is preferably permanently mounted on a suitable platform 2 by means of the bolts 3; suclrbase being provided with an upwardly directed peripheral flange at to form a saucer seat 5 for receiving a frame base 6 that is shaped on opposite lines to the platform base in order that it may seat over the platform base and be adapted for revolution on the lower base flange. Each of the bases 1 and 6 is provided with a central perforation 16 for receiving a pivot bolt 7, the head 8 of which is adapted to seat on the top of base 6 and the bolt shank to project through the perforations and carry a resilient washer 9 next to the platform 2, a metal washer 9 that binds against washer 9, and a nut 10 for holding the respective parts together; the fit of the belts in the base portions being such as to allow free revolution of the frame base, and the lower parts being adapted for adjustment to yieldingly hold the frame against revolution and prevent rattling or wabbling thereof. Base is also provided with a horizontal ear 6 that is adapted for engagement with the upper ends of bolts 3 for the purpose of limiting the revolution of the upper frame base on its axis.

On the opposite sides of the frame base 6 are the upwardly projecting cars 11, having perforations for receiving the pivot bolts 12, one of which is preferably elongated to provide a handle portion 12.

13 designates the trap frame the rear of which is provided with outwardly and downwardly extending yoke arms 1 1 which are provided at their lower ends with the perforated cars 15 adapted to fit over the frame base ears, preferably on the outside thereof; the respective bolts 12 being adapted to project through the perforations of the contacting ears 1]. and 15 and be tightened thereagainst in order that the frame body 16 may extend upwardly at a desired angle to secure the proper target elevation.

On the front end of and preferably depending from the frame body is a hub 17 which 1 preferably construct integral with the body 16 and the yoke arms 14. Revolubly mounted in hub 17 is a shaft 18 the ends of which project slightly above and below the hub ends and the fit of which is adapted to permit its free revolution without rattling or wabbling.

ltigidly secured to the upper free end of shaft 18 is an ejector mechanism, preferably comprising a rigid base member 19 that is adapted to support a target prior to discharge and is provided with an upwardly projecting target rotating rail 20 at one side; said rail being preferably rigid on support 19 and hav ing an incurved free end portion 2 1, for a purpose presently set forth; the opposite side of said support being provided with a post 22 located near the ejector pivot and provided with an incurved spring finger 23 which is adapted to retain a target in the ejector prior to discharge, and yield to allow the target to pass when under the influence of the centrifugal force generated during the throw of the ejector, as presently described.

Rigidly secured to the lower end of shaft 18 is a crank member 24 preferably comprising an attaching hub 25 and a cam plate 26, the latter provided with an upturned edge flange 27'; such plate being preferably ex tended in the direction opposite to the ejector mechanism. On the under side of plate 26 is a bearing 28 within which is located a plunger 29, having a beveled end and preferably provided with pins 30 which project through the elongated slots 31 and limit the .lunger travel; there being a coil spring 32 l ocated in the bearing chamber for normally tensioning the plunger outwardly.

33 designates a crank pin that depends from the under side of plate 26 and carries the forward shank 34 of a coil spring 35.

Pivotally depending from the frame body, near the frame yoke arms 14, is a lever yoke 36, the ends of which are preferably pivoted on the frame lugs 37 while the lower yoke end is curved near the frame base.

Pivotally mounted in the yoke 36 is a bracket 38,having a hook 39, on which the rear shank of spring 35 is mounted.

Pivotally mounted in yoke 36 is a forwardly projecting trip link 41, the free end of which projects through a squared slide port 42 in a depending bracket 43 carried by the frame body 16 and is upwardly offset to provide a latch ledge 44 for engaging the rear face of bracket 43 to hold the link and lever yoke mechanism backwardly against the tension of the spring 35 when the ejector is set, and the contracted end of said link being projected into the path of rotation of the plunger 29 and having its free end bent to the right at an angle to the link body and beveled upwardly toward its end on the under side.

41" designates a stop slidably mounted on the link 41 and adapted for adjustment to limit the forward travel of said link.

16 designates a slot in the frame body 16. Fitting within and adapted for travel in said slot is a trigger post 45, the upper end of which projects above the frame body into position for engagement with a stop lug 46 that depends from the under side of the ejector; said post being provided with lugs 47 which bear against the upper surface of the frame body and support the trigger mechanism.

Projecting rearwardly from the lower end of post 45 is an arm 48, which terminates adjacent to the lever yoke in a downturned hook end 49, the trigger post and arm being yieldingly held in a forward position by a coil spring 45 which is connected with bracket 43 and post 45.

Pivoted to the lever yoke 36, preferably by the pin 50 upon which the trip link is mounted, is a lever 51, the upper arm 52 of which is adapted for engagement with the hook end of the trigger and is beveled on its forward face, while its lower end 53 is adapt- 7 ed for engagement with a pin 54, carried by the lever yoke to limit the forward movement of the upper lever arm, and hold the lever yoke when the rod 58 is retracted to tension spring 35. 7 Pivoted to the lower arm 53 of the lever 51 is a bracket 55 having a lip 56 to which is pivoted a yoke 57 that is carried on the end of rod 58; said yoke having a shank portion 59 of substantially greater diameter than 8 1 said rod for a purpose presently set forth.

Fitting over and adapted for longitudinal movement on rod 58 is a sleeve 60 having side slots 61 through which pins 62, that are rigidly carried on the rod 58 project, the pins 8 being adapted to engage the forward slot ends to limit the backward sliding travel of the sleeve and the slot being so arranged that when the sleeve is moved forwardly its front end will abut against a coil spring 58 that is 9 carried by and surrounds rod 58 and force same against the rear face of shank 59.

63 designates a rod that is connected with and projects rearwardly from sleeve 60 and is pivoted to a lever 64 which is preferably ful- 9 crumed in a sunken lever boX 65; the upper end of said lever having a handle portion 66 and the lower end being provided with a balancing weight 67.

68 designates a flat spring that is attached 1 to the frame body in position to receive the impact of the ejector when the latter is returned to its position as will presently be described.

When the trap is in use the ejector is first 1 set by pulling same back against the tension of spring '35 until the lug 46 is in position behind the trigger post 45, when the spring 35 will be partially tensioned. After the ejector is in set position the lever 64 is rocked 1 backwardly pulling the sleeve 60 along the rod 58 until the pins 62 engage the forward ends of the slots 61, when the rod 58 is carried backwardly, rocking the lever yoke and tensioning the spring 35 to its throwing l strength, the spring being held in such posi tion by the stop link 41 which, when the lever yoke is rocked backwardly, is retracted until its offset free end is free to drop over the edge of the slot in the bracket 43 to allow the latch 1 notch 44 to engage the rear face of the bracket and hold the yoke back against the spring tension. When the parts are in this position a target is fed to the ejector by placing same on the rear of support 19 where it is yieldingly 1 held in place by the spring 23 binding it against the rail 20. Upon receiving a signal from the shooter, the operator moves the lever forward until the end of the collar 60 abuts against the spring 58 and forces same 1 against the yoke bracket shank 59 when the lever arm 53 is rocked forwardly and the upper arm 52 retracted to cause the latter to engage and retract the trigger arm 48 against the tension of spring 45; such action moving the trigger post 45 backwardly and releasing the ejector. Upon the release as noted, spring 35 draws the cam plate 24 backwardly to the left (owing to the fact that the crank pin is slightly off center in that direction) bringing the ejector around to the right with sufficient force to throw the target past the spring finger 23 and along and from the ejector support, the target being compelled to pass by the inturned outer end 21 of the rail 20 as it leaves the ejector and receives a rotating impetus therefrom. its the ejector moves around toward the front of the trap, the cam plate 24 moves toward the rear end on the opposite side, so that as the parts reach substantially a center relative to the trap body the beveled end of the plunger 30 en.- gages the left face of the lever link and passes thereover, because of the giving of the plunger and the plunger spring, the rail 27 pass ing over the top of said link. When the ejector has reached the limit of its forward travel and is brought back by the rebound of spring 35, the straight edge of the plunger 30 engages the beveled under edge of the lever link and lifts same until the notch 44 is freed. from the bracket groove and the end of the lever link moved upwardly to engagement with the flange 27. [is soon as the rebound carries the cam plate past the lever link, such link is moved forwardly to the position indi cated in Fig. 11 by the tension of the spring 35, and the tension of such spring correspondingly reduced so that the ejector may rebound to the set position and the crank cam plate be moved back to the front of the frame hub; the trigger post being moved back against the tension of the spring 45 when its beveled edge is engaged by the ejector lug 46, the flat spring 68 stopping and breaking the impact of the rebound, and the forward movement of the cam plate and crank tensioning the spring 35 to a limited degree. il hen the ejector has reached the set position described, the spring 45 will have again drawn the trigger post forwardly blocking the forward movement of the ejector and holding the same until the trigger is operated by the lever 64 as described. Having been so returned the ejector-is again ready to receive a target and the main spring ready to receive its final tension. The automatic return of the arm making possible a more rapid operation of the trap than it if were necessary to return the arm and put the entire pressure on the spring by the operation of one or more levers a saving of time being also effected in the feeding of the targets for the reason that the return of the ejector is instantaneous and the ejector in position to receive another target as soon as one has been thrown.

By providing the ejector rail with the inturned end portion, a rotary movement is given the target at the moment ofdischarge. And by providing the lever with a counter .balancing weight, the lever movement is relieved of a portion of the spring tension in setting and an easier operation of the trap is made possible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A target trap comprising an ejector having a trigger engaging lug, a trigger having a sliding post adapted for engagement with said lug to hold said ejector against a discharging tension, said post being provided with a beveled portion opposite its holding side, single means for imparting a discharging swing to the ejector and for returning same to set position, and means for actuating said trigger.

2. In a target trap, a suitable frame, a slotted bracket depending from said frame, an ejector revolubly mounted on said frame, a crank device rigidly connected with said ejector, a coil spring connected with said crank device, a tensioning mechanism connected with said spring, and a link connected with said tensioning device and projecting through the slot in said bracket and having a lipped portion extending upwardly therefrom, said crank device having a plunger adapted for releasing said link from its latched engagement, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a target trap, a suitable frame, a shaft revolubly mounted in said frame, an ejector rigidly mounted on said shaft, a cam plate rigidly mounted on said shaft, a crank pin on said plate, a tensioning mechanism, a coil spring connecting said tensioning mechanism and said crank pin, a bracket on said frame, a link carried by said tensioning mechanism and adapted for locking engagement with said bracket, a beveled plunger on said link, a flange on said cam plate adapted for engagement with said link when said link is free from its locking engagement but for nonengagement therewith when in its locking position, a plunger adapted for yielding en.- gagement with said link when moved in one direction and for nonyielding engagement with the beveled portion thereof when moved in an opposite direction, a locking device for holding the ejector against the tension of said spring, means for actuating said locking de vice, and means for tensioning said spring.

4. in a target trap, an ejector, revolubly mounted and comprising a base of sufficient length to permit sliding travel of a target thereon for a distance substantially exceeding the diameter of the target, a rail rigidly mounted at the side of and above the level of said base and provided with an inwardly curved portion at its outer end, and means for actuating said ejector.

5. In a target trap a revoluble shaft and means for actuating same, an ejector rigidly connected with said shaft and comprising an elongated base over which atarget may slide, a side rail carried by said base and provided with an inwardly curved free end adapted to yield under pressure from a departing target, and a yielding rail carried by said base opposite said side rail andextending longitudinally therewith for a portion of the extent of said side rail, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a target trap, a revoluble target ejector and means for actuating same, a locking device for holding said ejector against the tension of said actuating means, a swinging frame having pivotal connection with said actuating means, a lever pivoted in said frame and adapted for contact with said locking device, a rod connected with said lever, a sleeve adapted for limited sliding movement on said rod and for actuating said rod in either direction, means for limiting the backward travel of said lever, and a pulling device connected with said sleeve.

7. In a target trap, the combination with an ejector and means for actuating same, of a setting mechanism having a connecting rod, a sleeve adapted for travel on said 0011-.

necting rod and for holding engagement sleeve, said connecting rod being provided with means for holding the sleeve when the parts are extended, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature l in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN A. HUNTLEY. Witnesses:

GEO. HORN, HAROLD E. RICHARDS. 

